My Trane Gaspack fan is dead, and I can’t get to it. The unit is a YCC036A 1L (Manuf. 1989).
The unit is installed so close to the wall of the house (flush) that I can’t get a screwdriver to the sheet metal screws that attach the top cover to the rest of the unit. (Can’t get there with a nut driver or 1/4″ drive socket either.)
Is this typical??? Did the manuf/installer think that the top cover should never come off???
I can open side panels that give me access to cooling coils/fan or t’stat/igniter electronics, but I can’t get to the blower fan. I assume I’d need to remove the electronics panel, remove the burners, and crawl into the unit to get at the fan… Not worth the trouble… If I could remove the top panel, the fan motor would be right there…. Right??? The side panel that would have to come off for direct access to the fan has the gas supply piping bulkheaded through it. I ain’t moving that one, even if it was easy.
Do I need to go after the fan from the return duct inside the crawlspace, or have a tech take the whole thing apart to get to the fan? Dragging a new fan motor through the crawlspace is going to be a pain, if it’s even possible.
There are three capacitors (I think… Maybe some transformers… Need to check to be sure…) on the electronics panel. These are easy to get to. Are they all part of the ignition system, or are these the start cap(s) for the motor. If I can get by with just replacing these, I’d be thrilled.
Replies
I would guess that the installer ignored the spacing specs.
Go try your post on HVAC-talk.com under 'residential".
Not that familiar with Trane (another train wreck!) but it sounds like 'murphy' probably put the schematics for the motor caps on the inside of the door you cant get off also.. Mos tof the screws should be hex head also, can you get an open end wrench in there?
That site also has a 'hall of shame' section to expose hacks who did an install like yours. Since you specify having a hvac tech do the work, the people there will at least give you an idea how bad the situation is - beware, it is a 'hate DIY' site at times.
Does the motor smell burnt? When it should start at the very beginning of the cycle does the motor at least 'hum' for a few seconds? If no smell and the motor hums for a few seconds, you may luck out and it just is a cap.
Yes. They are hexheads. In the original installation, they would have been completely inaccessible. (butted up to the wall and sealed in with silicone and Great Stuff...)
The pad that the unit sits on has apparently shifted a little and opened a gap of about 1/2" from the wall at the top. I may be able to get at them with an open end followed by a hacksaw blade.
There was good reason to install this unit close to the house, but probably no reason to go this close. House sits 10 feet from property line and this unit is about 4 feet wide.
The fan motor became reluctant to start a few weeks ago. I turned it on continuously, and it lasted about 2 weeks before it stopped, the house got cold, and I smelled hot electrical stuff in the return duct. I shut the gas off, pulled the disconnect fuses, and put on a sweater. Just haven't had time to decide what to do about this little problem.